
The capuchins are a group of new world monkeys. They are classified as the genus "Cebus". Their name "Capuchin" comes form their coloration, which resembles the cowls worn by the capuchin order of Roman Catholic monks. Cebus is the only genus in the subfamily, "Cebinae". Cebinae includes squirrel monkeys, spider monkeys, wooley monkeys and wooley spider monkeys. The capuchin's range includes Central America (Honduras) and middle South America (Brazil, eastern Peru and Paraguay). The white faced capuchin is native to Central America and the other capuchin species are native to South America. Capuchins generally resemble the monks of their namesake. Their body, arms, legs and tail are all either black or brown, while the face throat and chest are white and their head has a black cap. The general pattern varies from species to species as well as among individuals within a species. They reach a length of 30 to 56 cm with tails that are as long as their body. They weigh up to 1.3 kg. The diet of capuchins are more varied than other monkeys in the family Cebidae. They are omnivores, eating fruits, nuts, seeds, buds in addition to insects, spiders, bird eggs and small vertebrate. Capuchins living near water will also eat crabs by cracking their shells with stones.